Adrienne Curry Reveals Permanent Scalp Damage from America's Next Top Model Makeover
Adrienne Curry, a former winner of America’s Next Top Model, recently shared a distressing experience from the show’s first season that she says left her with permanent scalp damage. In a video posted on Instagram, Curry alleged that a makeover directed by Tyra Banks, the creator and host of ANTM, resulted in lasting harm to her hair. She revealed that the weave she received during filming caused her to become “partially bald” in an area that no longer grows hair.
During the makeover process, Curry claimed that Black stylists working on her hair expressed concerns about the fragility of her hair to Banks. Despite their warnings, Banks reportedly instructed them to proceed with the weave installation. Curry recalled experiencing an “oozing wound” on her scalp and losing half of her hair during the process.
After the show ended, Curry had to seek help from a local Black salon in Joliet, Illinois, to remove the damaging weave. Due to a nondisclosure agreement, she couldn’t disclose where the weave had been installed, leading the salon staff to believe that someone had intentionally harmed her. The removal process was lengthy and painful, leaving Curry with scarring and bald patches that persist to this day.
Curry expressed her belief that many of the show’s early makeovers were more about shock value than enhancing the contestants’ modeling potential. She recalled feeling that the makeovers were designed to be torturous rather than beneficial for the participants. This sentiment aligns with her previous on-camera comments from the show’s third episode, where she described the weave process as lengthy and painful.
Despite Curry’s claims, representatives for Tyra Banks have not responded to the allegations. The model’s account sheds light on the potential risks and consequences of extreme makeovers in the modeling industry, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the well-being and safety of contestants.